EXHIBIT VISITS AND EXPLORATION
For the first Foundation study brief I will be studying and developing the ideas of DISSENT AND RESISTANCE
DISSENT meaning to hold views against the commonly held opinion, an example of an activist or educator would be Marsha P Johnson
I brainstormed my initial thoughts on what I thought represented this topic and wanted to make sure that these topics were important and personal to me.
My top 5 chosen themes that I wanted to explore more were:
- Stereotypes
I find Stereotyping occurs so casually in society and is usually never questioned since stereotypes of characteristics and appearances has caused people to label a book by its cover. This relating to Dissent since stereotype is a commonly held opinion of a person.
- Technology
As much as I think personally technology is an amazing thing and can bring people closer together and benefits us in accessing countless amounts of knowledge I do also think it pushes people apart. It is the norm for people to be together in each others company yet have more attention focused on their phone or TV. As someone who is half Japanese I come from a very advanced country who pioneer in latest technology, I have watched documentaries and read articles about people turning to virtual relationships and having hotels which is exclusively run by robots, it makes me sad since human interaction is being replaced by artificial intelligence and that sounds lonely. I further explored the idea of loneliness relating to technology by analysing people in London, no end of people on trains not socialising or giving each other the time of day, just absorbed into the virtual world on their phone.
Although I have a father living in Japan and a long distance relationship myself so technology definitely benefits me in feeling closer to my loved ones but how much technology is too much?
- Prejudice
This is a prime example of judging a book by its cover in a negative way. Having an unfavourable opinion of someone that is not based on reason or actual experience. It can happen to anyone and I really dislike negative opinions being judged when you don't know someones story or take the time to listen or try to understand.
- Racism
I find it difficult to understand how people are racist and refuse to understand that everyone is equal despite your race or skin colour. I feel very strongly about this more so for other people since I cant begin to imagine what it must feel like to be in fear for your life because of your skin colour or ethnicity.
- LGBTQ
Something I also found hard to understand why peoples lifestyle choices cannot be accepted by some people. I understand that older generations have had the opinion that same sex relationships is not a 'normal' thing but it really needs to change and honestly I think society has gone backwards with accepting people's sexual preferences. Everyone should be accepted and live their life safely and openly.
BRITISH MUSEUM, DESIRE, LOVE IDENTITY EXPLORING LGBTQ IDENTITIES
I followed the trail of this exhibition relating to some artefacts in the permanent exhibitions and it was interesting to see this topic reoccurring in other means throughout history.
I found these playing cards really visually appealing since they incorportate a loud and expressive colour in their fashion. They show personalities from Japanese drag and I like the use of makeup and fashion to express individuality and a message to be themselves.
The story between Hadrian and Antinous was really interesting since I was surprised that same sex relationships were culturally approved in ancient Greece, this is what makes me think we have gone backwards in society since history tells of more accepting views and beliefs.
The N'domo initiation ceremony of the Bamana people from Mali has male, female and androgynous (un gendered masks), gender is indicated by number of horns. I like the approach of using fashion and work garments to indicate beliefs and self expression for something that can be visually powerful.
TATE MODERN: SOUL OF A NATION
A really interesting exhibition exploring Black artists work in the United States in the two decades after the 1963.
I enjoyed the wide range of media styles that were offered since their were paintings, videos, posters and photographs.
A lot of these topics highlights difficult times and heavy topics mostly based on death, suppression, politics and gang violence.
This oil canvas painting which I quickly interpreted but with negative reverse colours in my sketchbook caught my attention since I found the abstract strokes interesting and actually quite beautiful, only then to read the meaning behind the painting which completely changed the ambience of the piece. America the Beautiful 1960 is a depiction of the Klu Klux Klan (white supremacist gang) hats. In a way the initial attractiveness of the strokes could represent how America appeared to show no issues yet underneath it all this was the worst place to be for a black person at this time.
A lot of the artwork depicted details of what was happening at that time, political figures and Klu Klux Klan imagery was used heavily especially in paintings whilst showing suppression and hard times.
For a different media technique I collaged pieces from the leaflet given from the exhibit to create a silhouette of Martin Luther King since there was his speech being played in the background and I responded to this sensory media.
I drew the chain and barbed wire installation since I found it very powerful, chains and barbed wire are associated with pain and being prisoner which depicts how many black people felt at this time.
Relating to the idea of stereotypes, I saw this sculpture of a watermelon, certain things are stereotypes to relate to a race or culture and watermelons are usually associated with black people.
This piece I found the most intriguing since it communicated a message through clothing, it was unique and different and the idea behind it made me very intrigued. A female outfit with a military bullet holder strap across the body but holding coloured pastels and not bullets. The way I understand this piece is that it could represent how helpless black people felt since they couldn't fight back and probably didn't have access to weapons of protection like white people could. Coloured pastels are often used by children so it could mean that adults felt like scared children with nothing to defend themselves and treated lesser than. The artist could be communicating that black people may have well had pastels as protection since they had nothing better.
SAATCHI MUSEUM: SELFIE
The photographs of the men covered in tattoos was what caught my attention the most, it was called Soviet Prisoners. I personally found this the most interesting since as someone who is tattooed, there can be a lot of judgement and stereotyping based on those who have tattoos. The fact that these men are prisoners and are covered in tattoos already relates negative connotations such as rebellion or danger. I think there is still prejudice on people with tattoos (however it has become more accepting) especially when it comes to getting hired for a job or people thinking you are rebellious or troublesome because you are inked. People shouldn't feel the need to have their tattoos covered if they are worried about getting hired or how they are perceived it does not define personality or how skilled they are.
This is something I would like to take further since tattoos affect how people can be treated differently because of them.
This video spoke to me since it shows how tattooed people feel the need to cover their tattoos (their expression and individuality) in order to be hired or even to avoid negative response from the public. Tattoos are art personal to the wearer and it can be sentimental and expressive and I feel like that should not be taken away in order for people to fit into social norms.
I have been inspired by the fashion aspect from the exhibits I have been to since with something such as tattoos which I aim to pursue, a wearable and visual response will portray my views and feelings on this topic most effectively.
DISSENT meaning to hold views against the commonly held opinion, an example of an activist or educator would be Marsha P Johnson
I brainstormed my initial thoughts on what I thought represented this topic and wanted to make sure that these topics were important and personal to me.
My top 5 chosen themes that I wanted to explore more were:
- Stereotypes
I find Stereotyping occurs so casually in society and is usually never questioned since stereotypes of characteristics and appearances has caused people to label a book by its cover. This relating to Dissent since stereotype is a commonly held opinion of a person.
- Technology
As much as I think personally technology is an amazing thing and can bring people closer together and benefits us in accessing countless amounts of knowledge I do also think it pushes people apart. It is the norm for people to be together in each others company yet have more attention focused on their phone or TV. As someone who is half Japanese I come from a very advanced country who pioneer in latest technology, I have watched documentaries and read articles about people turning to virtual relationships and having hotels which is exclusively run by robots, it makes me sad since human interaction is being replaced by artificial intelligence and that sounds lonely. I further explored the idea of loneliness relating to technology by analysing people in London, no end of people on trains not socialising or giving each other the time of day, just absorbed into the virtual world on their phone.
Although I have a father living in Japan and a long distance relationship myself so technology definitely benefits me in feeling closer to my loved ones but how much technology is too much?
- Prejudice
This is a prime example of judging a book by its cover in a negative way. Having an unfavourable opinion of someone that is not based on reason or actual experience. It can happen to anyone and I really dislike negative opinions being judged when you don't know someones story or take the time to listen or try to understand.
- Racism
I find it difficult to understand how people are racist and refuse to understand that everyone is equal despite your race or skin colour. I feel very strongly about this more so for other people since I cant begin to imagine what it must feel like to be in fear for your life because of your skin colour or ethnicity.
- LGBTQ
Something I also found hard to understand why peoples lifestyle choices cannot be accepted by some people. I understand that older generations have had the opinion that same sex relationships is not a 'normal' thing but it really needs to change and honestly I think society has gone backwards with accepting people's sexual preferences. Everyone should be accepted and live their life safely and openly.
BRITISH MUSEUM, DESIRE, LOVE IDENTITY EXPLORING LGBTQ IDENTITIES
I followed the trail of this exhibition relating to some artefacts in the permanent exhibitions and it was interesting to see this topic reoccurring in other means throughout history.
I found these playing cards really visually appealing since they incorportate a loud and expressive colour in their fashion. They show personalities from Japanese drag and I like the use of makeup and fashion to express individuality and a message to be themselves.
The story between Hadrian and Antinous was really interesting since I was surprised that same sex relationships were culturally approved in ancient Greece, this is what makes me think we have gone backwards in society since history tells of more accepting views and beliefs.
The N'domo initiation ceremony of the Bamana people from Mali has male, female and androgynous (un gendered masks), gender is indicated by number of horns. I like the approach of using fashion and work garments to indicate beliefs and self expression for something that can be visually powerful.
TATE MODERN: SOUL OF A NATION
A really interesting exhibition exploring Black artists work in the United States in the two decades after the 1963.
I enjoyed the wide range of media styles that were offered since their were paintings, videos, posters and photographs.
A lot of these topics highlights difficult times and heavy topics mostly based on death, suppression, politics and gang violence.
This oil canvas painting which I quickly interpreted but with negative reverse colours in my sketchbook caught my attention since I found the abstract strokes interesting and actually quite beautiful, only then to read the meaning behind the painting which completely changed the ambience of the piece. America the Beautiful 1960 is a depiction of the Klu Klux Klan (white supremacist gang) hats. In a way the initial attractiveness of the strokes could represent how America appeared to show no issues yet underneath it all this was the worst place to be for a black person at this time.
For a different media technique I collaged pieces from the leaflet given from the exhibit to create a silhouette of Martin Luther King since there was his speech being played in the background and I responded to this sensory media.
I drew the chain and barbed wire installation since I found it very powerful, chains and barbed wire are associated with pain and being prisoner which depicts how many black people felt at this time.
Relating to the idea of stereotypes, I saw this sculpture of a watermelon, certain things are stereotypes to relate to a race or culture and watermelons are usually associated with black people.
This piece I found the most intriguing since it communicated a message through clothing, it was unique and different and the idea behind it made me very intrigued. A female outfit with a military bullet holder strap across the body but holding coloured pastels and not bullets. The way I understand this piece is that it could represent how helpless black people felt since they couldn't fight back and probably didn't have access to weapons of protection like white people could. Coloured pastels are often used by children so it could mean that adults felt like scared children with nothing to defend themselves and treated lesser than. The artist could be communicating that black people may have well had pastels as protection since they had nothing better.
SAATCHI MUSEUM: SELFIE
The photographs of the men covered in tattoos was what caught my attention the most, it was called Soviet Prisoners. I personally found this the most interesting since as someone who is tattooed, there can be a lot of judgement and stereotyping based on those who have tattoos. The fact that these men are prisoners and are covered in tattoos already relates negative connotations such as rebellion or danger. I think there is still prejudice on people with tattoos (however it has become more accepting) especially when it comes to getting hired for a job or people thinking you are rebellious or troublesome because you are inked. People shouldn't feel the need to have their tattoos covered if they are worried about getting hired or how they are perceived it does not define personality or how skilled they are.
This is something I would like to take further since tattoos affect how people can be treated differently because of them.
This video spoke to me since it shows how tattooed people feel the need to cover their tattoos (their expression and individuality) in order to be hired or even to avoid negative response from the public. Tattoos are art personal to the wearer and it can be sentimental and expressive and I feel like that should not be taken away in order for people to fit into social norms.
I have been inspired by the fashion aspect from the exhibits I have been to since with something such as tattoos which I aim to pursue, a wearable and visual response will portray my views and feelings on this topic most effectively.
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